Dehydrating and treating apparatus



Sept. 15, 1942. w. H. PAGENKOPF 2,295,912

DEHYDRATING AND TREATING APPARATUS Filed June 3, 1949 FIG. 1

FIG. 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

WALTER H. PAGENKOPF V495 ATTORNEY.'

Patented Sept. 15, v1942 DEHYDATIN AND TB'IEATING APPARATUS Walter H. Pagenkopf, La Grange, Ill., assigner to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi' Delaware Application June63, 1940, Serial No. 338,6li

N Claims. The present invention relates to uid conditioning apparatus and more particularly to a system of receptacles for containing piece part treating solutions.

One of the final steps during the manufacture of small piece parts is that of surface plating in quantities following which the plating solution is completely removed from the piece parts by successive immersions in. rinse water. Thereafter the piece parts are dried and proceed either to an assembly division or to stock supply quarters where they are stored pending subsequent assembly operations. In removing the rinse water from th'e piece parts two common methods have been employed; namely, that of tumbling the piece parts in a hot, sawdust lled barrel or by exposing the piece parts to heated air for accelerating evaporation.

The former of these two methods is deemed objectionable because of its cumbersome and time consuming characteristics while the latter of the two methods is deemed objectionable on account of the persistent water spotting of the piece parts, a result which' is believed to' be attributable to the mineral content of community water supply systems. Since the use of chemically pure water for the purpose of rinsing plated piece parts would necessarily entail a prohibitive cost, itis proposed to use industrially available water supply for the purpose of rinsing and thereafter to remove the water from the surface of the piece parts in such a manner as to avoid the unsightly and therefore undesirable water spotting eects.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for treating water moistened piece parts following a generaal rinse operation With a water removing medium which itself is continuously purged of water accumulation by a system of receptacles and fluid circulating apparatus.

In its essential embodiment, the invention comprises a unitary rectangular tank or housing which is divided into three partitioned subchambers or receptacles. Two of the said three subchambers are open and have disposed above them a water cooled condensing coil, which consists of a substantially rectangular helix, each surrounding its particular subchamber ata point a ,predetermined distance above the normal lluid level and effective to cool its local atmosphere so as to condense and accordingly confine rising vapors. Of the two open subchambers, one is intended to contain a mixture of slushing compound together with a thinning agent, while the other of the two is illled to a predetermined level with a cleansing iluid notably effective for the purpose of removing water traces from machined metal piece parts completely.. effectively, ,and without leaving any residue of mineral or other substance which may be manifest by the characteristic water spotting as described above.

The third subchamber is functionally an auxiliary to the last described open subchamber which contains the water removing fluid and it serves as an overow receptacle as well as a separator or purging tank, advantage being taken of the fact that the water has a lower specic gravity and therefore accumulates above the detergent fluid. Float gauges are provided, each -fo`r indicating the level of its respective fluid, water or detergent, the former being Withdrawn by peri'- odically opening a drain cock for this purpose and the latter being returned to the detergent containing immersion subchamber described above.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing and to the detailed specification following hereinafter wherein like reference Icharacters refer to corresponding parts throughout. In the drawing Fig. l is a plan view of a processing tank assembly constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention; 1 l

Fig 2 isa side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 having portions of its proximate wall broken away to reveal the interior, and Y Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus featured in Figs, l and 2.

Giving special attention now to the details in the accompanying drawing the reference character II denotes a substantially rectangular assembled unit having th'e parallel side walls I2.

Aand I3, the end Walls i4 and I5, and the base wall I6 all of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing as formed integrally. The unitary structure is divided transversely into three consecutive subchambers or compartments by the vertical partitioning walls I'I and IB. For convenient reference the subchambers are indicated I9, 2I and 22, subchambers I9 and 2l are heated by means of aheat radiating conduit 23, a vermiform tubular element through which is piped hot water or steam for the purpose of raising the temperature of fluid contained in said chambers I 9 and 2 I. The heat radiating element 23 is preferably sealed at the point '24 whereat it i crosses the partition Il so as to render the adjacent chambers impermeable to respective fluids. Y

The inlet and outlet terminals of the heat radiating element 23 are indicated 25 and 26, Fig. 1.

-partment i9 may consist of carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethylene, both noninflammable liquids having comparatively low boiling points. On this account, in order to prevent losses resulting from evaporation, a condenser coil 2l, preferably a metal helical element, is placed near the top of the chamber I9 surrounding its confining wall surfaces and at a level just above that of the liquid as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Cold Water is circulated through said helix 21 in order to -obtain a cooling of the local at- 'mosphere and an immediate condensation of the vapors rising from the thinner and slushing compound and also for the purpose of preventing or minimizing. the formation of a vapor zone. Said coil 21 is placed relatively close to the surface level of its liquid, contrasting i'n this respect with the conditions which obtain. in storage tank 2| as will be described later. For this reason the condenser coil 28 which may, for practical reasons, be a continuation of coil 21 is located above the liquid level of tank ZI with an intervening space so as to encourage and permit the maintenance of a limited vapor zone for a purpose whichwill be described later.

The uid contained in chamber ZI may be either of the thinning agents aforementioned,

-discharged into the separating tank 22.

carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethylene, which fluids are both water vremoving, mediums and from its tank 22 either is continuously discharged into the chamber 2| through an inletA pipe 29. The uid level of chamber 2| may not exceed that shown in Fig. 2, however, because ofthe overow opening 3| through which the excess is BY utilizing dehydrating agents or detergents, such as those mentioned whose specic gravities are greater than that of water, the pollution material (water, mineral, etc.) accumulated together with the solvent in tank 2 I, as a result of dipping operations as described above, will tend to rise above the detergent and will be discharged through the opening or openings 3| Iinto the ,separation chamber 22 in preference to the discharge therethrough of therdetergent itself. Accordingly, the action will be such as to purify the content of chamber 2| by the constant elimination of Water and/or such other foreign substances as may be in solution with the water, a 'eving the maintenance at all times of the comparatively pure detergent within sa'id chamber 2|.

It will 'be recalled that a zone between the liquid level and the condenser coil 28 is permitted to form in which a dense vapor of the solvent will be maintained so that upon removing piece parts from the cleansing tankor chamber 2| following the water stripping effect of the liquid detergent, any traces of water which may there-- after adhere on account of the passingpf said parts through any possible water accumulations on the surface of said detergent will be further azeaeie acted upon by said detergent vapor. AccordingIy, there is assured a thorough cleansing or stripping of the piece parts which may thereafter 'be immediately plunged into the slushing compound of vchamber I9. In practice it has been found that by means of an arrangement lsuch as is here disclosed and by the use of a solvent such as trichloroethylene, ferrous piece parts may be processed and treated so as to avoid completely the undesirable effects of water spotting discussed above. Y

Moreover. by reason of the arrangement illus trated in Figs. 1 and 2 whereby the solutions in compartments 2| and I9 are maintained in such close proximity each to the other, there may not only be eected the economy of heating both tanks by the use of a single radiation unit 23,

the condensing of both vapors by the use of a single system of condenser pipes 21, and 28, but also and of important utility, there may be effected the immediate dipping of piece parts cleansed in tank 2| into the slushing compound solution of tank I9 before the exposure to the atmosphere during transit may have an opportunity of air spotting or oxidizing the piece part surfaces.

Tank compartment 22 unlike the compartments I9 and 2| ispreferably closed by a top cover 32 which serves also as a rest or support for the circulating unit which consists of a fluid pump 33 and an electric motor 3d for impelling the same. -The intake pipe 35 of pump 33 extends down into the compartment 22 to an extent suiiciently below the minimum level 39, Fig. 2, of the solvent component of said tank, but not to such an extent of depth as to reach the possible level of precipitates accumulating wit-hin said compartment. IIhe exhaust pipe of circulating pump 33 is indicated 31 and it continues over its tank cover 32, then downwardly, connecting ultimately with the inlet pipe 29, described above, which discharges into the stripping solvent compartment 2|.

Accordingly, the solvent, which because of its higher specific gravity settles below the water accumulations in the separating compartment 22, is drawn up through intake pipe 35 and is forced out by the circulating pump 33 to discharge into compartment 2|. This causes the afore-described continuous overflowing of said compartment 2| through the opening 3| into the separating tank 22. Because of incidental losses due to evaporation, etc., it may be necessary to add periodically to the solvent which circulates throughout compartments 2| and 22. Water accumulations in compartment 22, however, being the product of the stripping action willl continue to increase in compartment 22 and may be drawn on' at periodic intervals consistent with the nature of the work under treatment by opening the drain cock 38. It is advisable to locate the water drain cock 38 suiciently above the maximum solvent level 36 in compartment 22' so that' there may not be any risk of permitting the solvent to flow out of this discharge conduit accidentally.

Except for the servicing of the fluids, that is,

which are carried at the lower extremity of their A respective gauge rods 44 and 45.

Float 42 is too heavy to be supported by the water in the upper portion of compartment 22 but is light enough to be supported by the solvent beneath level 36. Float element 43, however, is suniciently buoyant to be supported by the water in the upper portion of chamber 22 so that accordingly each of these elements will assume a position corresponding to the surface level of lts supporting fluid. Correspondingly the vrods 44 and 45 will be maintained so as to position their index pointers 46 and 41 denoting longitudinally with respect to the upstanding gauges 39 and 4l, the amount of uids respectively within the compartment 22.

Should the quantity of the solvent in compartments 2l and 22 be permitted to become depleted to such an extent that the level 36 in compartment 22 becomes lower than a predetermined minimum, an undesirable condition might obtain which would permitvsome of the water to be drawn in tothe intake pipe 35 and accordingly to be returned to the stripping compartment 2l. This result might occurif the supervisor neglected to observe the indicator 46 and failed to replenish the stock of solvent in tanks 2| and 22. To prevent the continued circulation of pump 33 under these conditions, means have been provided for arresting circulating motor 34 under the control of gauge 46. This is done by providing the feather touch supervisory switch 48 of which several embodiments are commercially available. Switch 48 controls the motor circuit of circulating pump motor 34 in the conventional manner. Under the circumstances, when index pointer 46 descends to a level whereat a portion of it may engage feather touch switch arm 48, the latter is caused to open the power circuit for said motor 34. This arrests circulating pump 33 and prevents the aforedescribed possibility of polluting the solvent in tank 2i.

Infthe foregoing, this invention has been described and illustrated .with reference to a particularly contemplated embodiment. It is not intended, however, that this shall constitute any ,restrictions upon the inventive scope. Accordingly, no limitations are to be inferred nor implied except as recited in the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A piece part treating apparatus comprising, a principal enclosurenvertical partitions dividing said enclosure into a plurality of consecutive subchambers, a heat exchange element for raising the temperature of fluid containedv in certain ones of said subchambers, vapor cooling elements disposed over said certain ones of said subchambers for confining vaporization therefrom, one of said vertical partitions having apertures at a predetermined level therein for permitting iiuid overiiow from one of said subchambers to a separating chamber, and iiuid circulating means for drawing the iiuid from said separating chamber and for returning said fluid into said subchamber.

2. A conditioning apparatus for the processing of fluids comprising, a ilrst compartment for containing piece part water stripping solvent, a

' second compartment positioned to receive solvent overow from said rst compartment, means for heating said solvent in said rst compartment, means for condensing vaporization from said `solvent o! said rst compartment, and a plurality of gauge means for indicating thelevels in said second compartment of solvent and of superimposed stripping water.

3. A conditioning apparatus for reclaiming detergents used in the removal of rinse water from plated piece parts comprising, a structure com- 'prising an open vessel compartment tor containing detergent uid and a closed vessel compartment for containing the overow from said open vessel compartment for permitting stratiiication into components, fluid circulating apparatus for drawing detergent from a lower stratum of said closed vessel compartment and for discharging it into said open vessel compartment, means for gauging the amount of water stratum in said second compartment, and a drain for drawing on' part of said water stratum periodically.

4. A piece p'art treating apparatus comprising, a vessel divided into three consecutive subchambers by partitions, a heat element for the ilrst and second subchambers, vapor cooling elements disposed over said two subchambers equipped with the heating element for retarding vaporization from said subchambers, one of for discharging said fluid into said second heated subchamber.

5. Apparatus for processing fluids comprising, a container for piece part cleansing solvent, a container for receiving solvent overiow from said first mentioned container, means for heating said cleansing solvent, means for condensing` vaporization from said heated cleansing solvent, and aplurality of gauge means for indicating the levels in said container for solvent overflow of solvent and of other matter accumulation 46. A conditioning apparatus for separating foreign'matter from solvents used in the removal of rinse water from piece parts under treatment comprising, an open vessel compartment for containing solvent iiuid and a closed vessel compartment, means for overowing the contents from said open vessel compartment including said solvent and said foreign matter into said closed vessel compartment for stratiiication, iluid circulating apparatus for drawing solvent from a lower stratum of said closed vessel compartment and for discharging it into said open vessel compartment, and means for gauging the amount of strata accumulation in said closed vessel compartment.

'7. A ,conditioning apparatus for the processing. of uids comprising, a rst compartment for containing a detergent fluid, a second compartment positioned to receive the overow from said iirst compartment, means for heating the iiuid in said iirst compartment, means for condensing vaporization from said iiuid in said first compartment, and'a plurality of gauge means for indicating the levels in said second compartment of detergent uid and of waste fluid accumulated therewith.

8. An apparatus for the reclamation of detergent nuids, comprising a processing compartheating the fluid in said processing compartment, means for condensing vaporization from "'saidmiuid above said processing compartment,

a plurality of gauge means for indicating the levels in said second compartment of detergent uid and of waste uid accumulated thereby, means for recirculating detergent -uid from said second compartment to said first compartment, and means for discharging waste fluid from said second compartment.

9. Apparatus for cleansing articles and for applying protective coatingsl thereto, comprising a container for a cleansing liquid, a container for a coating liquid positioned adjacent said first mentioned container, a single means for heating the contents of both of said containers, means positioned above said cleansing liquid for confining the vaporization zone above said container containing the cleansing liquid, and means partially immersed in said coating liquid for eliminating a vaporization zone above said `container containing the coating liquid.

tioned in the container containing said coating.

liquid and partially immersed in said coating material for avoiding a vaporization zone of said volatile vehicle of said coating material.

WALTER H. PAGENKOPF.' 

